(Build of the Week) 0.3 - Firestorm Stormweaver

Build Concept
Goal of the build is to maximize the damage of Firestorm to clear out screens methodically (this is not a very fast screen clearing build).


Build Overview
Firestorm
Changes to Firestorm made it so that you utilize all three of the new infusion types to empower the storm instead of ignites. Fire infusions triple the storm strike frequency and increased the area size of the storm, and cold/lightning infusions fired additional bolts matching the fire bolt frequency. This means that by consuming all three infusions, you could have 9 times as many strikes as a base firestorm.

Getting Infusions
Out of the three ways to get infusions (Living Bomb, Orb of Storms, Frost Bomb, Snap, Siphon Elements), there is not a very great way to get all your infusions:
- Living Bomb: needs enemies to get infusions, give cold infusion
- Frost Bomb: has a cooldown, gives fire infusion
- Orb of Storms: lasts 12 seconds, gives lightning
- Snap: requires enemies affected by elemental ailments, has a cooldown, all infusions
- Siphon Elements: requires enemies affected by elemental ailments, requires spirit, all infusions

However, using Elemental Equilibrium along with Stormweaver Ascendancy nodes Refracted Infusion and Storm's Recollection allows you to get all three in large quantities if you had a way to spam one of the aforementioned infusion based spells. Luckily, Orb of Storms can expire early when you cast spells in it which will be the main source of infusions. Additionally, Frost bomb can be used to get additional infusions and it's elemental exposure will be a helpful tool later for getting more damage.

Damage
Since this is a tri-element build, there are not many nodes that can be utilized to maximize the entire storm's damage. This build uses the exposure nodes around the notables Stripped Defenses and Overexposure along with critical chance/damage nodes to scale up all 3 damage types at the same time. As mentioned before, Frost Bomb has high synergy with the build and can get very high exposure values (currently getting 155%) and gives infusions. Additionally, Elemental Weakness can be used to increase exposure further (currently getting 93%).

Other Synergies
Since this is focused as a crit build, Ascendancy nodes Tempest Caller and Multiplying Squalls allow you to further live the 'storm' fantasy by having multiple Firstorms at the same time as well as having many Elemental Storms in the area as well. Additionally, by increasing the limit of Firestorm, you can possibly increase the number of storms cast in one go (using gems that echo the storm will require additional infusions to gain the effects on secondary casts).


Early Game
This build is a bit level intensive due to how many nodes in the tree you will want (that and wanting 4th Ascendancy). Luckily, the early game has some nice synergy between Ember Fusillade with its low cast speed and ability to consume lightning infusions when used with Orb of Storms which wants to be discharged and provides said lightning infusions. This will make leveling fairly easy as the gameplay loop consists of stripping enemies/bosses from their resistance, and spamming Ember Fusillade to discharge Orb of Storms and casting Orb of Storms to fire Ember Fusillade.


The Build
Once you get to level +65 and reach to endgame, you get all the pieces you will want for your build to allow you to switch to Firestorm as your source of damage. Gear that I have maximizes Spell Levels to ensure maximum damage for all spells, a Dueling Wand to make the spamming of Ember Fusillade and Orb of Storms more effective, and a Chiming Staff to increase spell damage. The spells I use for the build are below:

Opening Spells
Frost Bomb: Overabundance, Spell Echo, Potent Exposure
Elemental Weakness: Heightened Curse, Focused Curse
Sigil of Power: Prolonged Duration

Infusion Loop
Ember Fusillade: Rapid Casting, Arcane Surge, Inhibitor
Spellslinger: Orb of Storms, Boundless Energy

Spirit Gems
Mana Remnants: Harmonic Remnants, Remnant Potency
Arctic Armor: Freeze

The Finale
Firestorm: Overabundance, Prolonged Duration, Rapid Casting, Zarokh's Refrain, Concentrated Area


Conclusion / TLDR
This build has some great potential to it and lives the fantasy of building up to one big combo that crashes down elegantly on your enemies. It uniquely uses the tree in different ways to maximize it's damage since you are using each elemental damage type. The effects on screen are quite a sight to behold, but there are issues with resolution/framerate due to so many objects being rendered at once.

Pros
- Very cool looking
- Lots of AOE damage
- Utilizes everything changed with the Stormweaver Ascendancy in 0.3 to the fullest

Cons
- Exciting parts are mostly lategame
- Multicasting Firestorm 3 times, each with all 3 infusions, can really bog down graphics cards
- RNG of Elemental Equilibrium can limit damage output if unlucky.